Deadline: 31-Mar-2027
The Pandemic Fund invites eligible countries with high pandemic risk and capacity gaps to apply for grants to strengthen early warning, surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, and National Public Health Institutes. Applications are accepted from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, with grants designed for three-year projects that integrate co-financing, One Health approaches, and community engagement.
The Pandemic Fund has launched its fourth Call for Proposals to provide targeted funding to countries with significant capacity gaps, high risk of outbreaks, and major socioeconomic challenges. This round prioritizes countries not previously awarded single-country grants.
Objectives
The programme aims to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) by supporting projects that:
- Enhance early warning systems and disease surveillance.
- Strengthen laboratory networks and diagnostic capacities.
- Build a capable health workforce for rapid outbreak response.
- Support National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) or equivalent institutions.
- Enable cross-cutting pandemic PPR functions, including community engagement, institutional reform, and coordination.
Eligible Countries (Co-investors)
Applications are accepted from the following countries:
- Afghanistan, Benin, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda.
Funding Details
- Application Period: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
- Grant Ceiling: Country-specific, determined bilaterally based on:
- Capacity gaps
- Population size
- GNI per capita
- Enabling environment
- Implementation Period: 3 years
- Co-financing: Strongly encouraged from national budgets and external partners (cash or in-kind).
Project Requirements
Applications must demonstrate:
- Integration of the Pandemic Fund grant with co-financing and co-investment.
- Complementarity with existing initiatives in the country.
- Use of a One Health approach for surveillance, laboratories, and workforce.
- Functional real-world readiness, including simulation exercises and rapid response mechanisms.
- Community engagement and civil society participation.
Recommended Activities
- Equipment and infrastructure for zoonotic spillover detection
- Joint risk mapping of human-animal-environment interfaces
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring
- Biosafety and biosecurity improvements
- Participatory community surveillance
- Genomic surveillance and interoperable data tools
- Workforce recruitment, training, and retention
- Institutional strengthening of NPHIs or equivalent public institutions, including potential reforms or establishment of new entities
Application Process
- Develop a Project Proposal
- Include costed activities, Theory of Change, results indicators, and expected outcomes.
- Ensure alignment with national pandemic preparedness strategies.
- Collaborate with Implementing Entities
- Accredited entities include:
- African Development Bank
- Asian Development Bank
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Gavi
- Global Fund
- UNICEF
- UNDP
- World Bank
- Accredited entities include:
- Submit Application
- Applications are reviewed based on relevance, feasibility, co-financing leverage, One Health integration, and expected impact.
Key Priorities
- Strengthening early warning and surveillance systems
- Expanding laboratory capacity and diagnostics
- Developing a trained and ready workforce
- Enhancing institutional capacity of NPHIs or equivalent institutions
- Supporting cross-cutting functions, including governance, coordination, and rapid response
- Promoting community trust and engagement
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to demonstrate co-financing or co-investment contributions
- Proposing projects without alignment to national PPR priorities
- Omitting a One Health perspective
- Neglecting community or civil society engagement
- Submitting incomplete costed activities, results indicators, or Theory of Change
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Which countries can apply?
Eligible Co-investors include Afghanistan, Benin, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda.
2. What is the application window?
April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
3. What is the maximum grant size?
Grant ceilings are country-specific and communicated bilaterally.
4. How long are projects funded for?
Three-year implementation period.
5. Are co-financing and co-investment required?
Yes, leveraging national budgets and external partners is strongly encouraged.
6. What is a One Health approach?
It integrates human, animal, and environmental health to detect and prevent pandemics at the human-animal-environment interface.
7. Which implementing entities can manage the grant?
Accredited organizations include ADB, AfDB, CEPI, FAO, Gavi, Global Fund, UNICEF, UNDP, and World Bank.
Conclusion
The Pandemic Fund 4th Call for Proposals provides strategic support to strengthen pandemic preparedness, surveillance, laboratories, workforce, and institutional capacity in high-risk countries. By encouraging co-financing, community engagement, and One Health integration, the programme aims to ensure functional readiness, rapid outbreak response, and sustainable public health systems.
For more information, visit The Pandemic Fund.